How will advanced digital solutions boost China’s wind potential?

Advanced digital solutions can cut China’s LCoE by up to 12%, reports said.

Chinese developers and operators have been called on to invest in first-class digital solutions to boost China’s wind potential and end its over-reliance on coal.

In its white paper, the solutions provider, ONYX Insight, said that by investing in dial solutions instead of “quick fix” digital tools, the wind market can realise its maximum productivity and profits.

Specifically, China can cut the levelised cost of energy (LCoE) by up to 12% and save up to 30% on operations and maintenance budgets.

“We know that operators and developers in China are highly receptive to new technologies. They can get ahead of the curve now to ensure they are adopting the right digital solutions, like condition monitoring and data aggregation systems, which seek to drive down maintenance costs,” ONYX Insight wrote.

“This, along with China’s huge project development pipeline, is what will see wind make tangible headway in reducing the LCoE and end China’s reliance on coal,” they added.

Based on government figures, China has connected 10.8 gigawatts (GW) of new wind power capacity to the grid in the first half of 2021. Last year, the county built 71.7GW wind farm capacity, an increase of 60% from 2019.

ONYX Insight warned that huge levels of installed capacity come with a “substantial risk of lost energy if turbines are not optimised to run efficiently.”

To ensure that these turbines have the longevity they are capable of—which is about over 30 plus years—and that they deliver maximum production, high-quality digital solutions will be needed, ONYX Insight said.